I have an extensive family tree on Ancestry.ca. Can I transfer the content to FamilySearch?

donaldduncan1

I have done a lot of research to create my tree on the Ancestry website and would like to transfer its content to FamilySearch. Can this be done easily? It would be a major task to recreate all 700+ entries on the FamilySearch platform. Don Duncan

NidaFL

@donaldduncan1

We are sorry to hear some folks have not had a good experience using GEDCOM. But if the instructions are followed, many, may folks have successfully moved their information from other partner sites, Ancestry.com. Find My Past.com , My Heritage.com, etc.

We suggest your go to the Help Center and user search term GEDCOM, or follow these links

How should I prepare my GEDCOM file?

How do I copy information from my GEDCOM file into Family Tree?

What happens to information uploaded from a GEDCOM file?

How do I upload my GEDCOM file?

Keep in mind it is a compare process, in an effort to eliminate duplicate records for the same person. And because the whole GEDCOM must be compared before the next step is taken, it is recommended you keep that in mind, and not put several, several thousand names in same GEDCOM.

Also keep in mind that even after you have compared all the names, for duplicates, and can active the next step, those people who are new to the tree won't be automatically added to Family Search, family tree. You must add the "youngest" person by ID, then every ancestor linked to that person will come into the tree,

Please let Family Search know if you need further assistance.

Brett .

@donaldduncan1

Don

Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

Short Answer: 'Yes', it MAY be possible.

But ...

That Said ...

FIRSTLY ...

Just so that you are totally aware ...

Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...

------------------

Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons DO NOT understand the basic 'nature' and 'premise' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.

Please let me explain ...

We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).

We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.

We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

And, most importantly ...

We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'. 

I hope this gives you some, insight; and, perspective.

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SECONDLY ...

IF, you are a Member of the Church; THEN, you MAY, be able to link/connect your existing "Acncestry_com" Account, to your 'FamilySearch' Account; as, a "Partner" Account.

Here is the link ,to try doing so ...

https://www.familysearch.org/campaign/partneraccess/

FINALLY ...

Although, you can ...

Please DO NOT Upload a GEDCOM File into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

Upload the GEDCOM Files in the "Genealogies" Part of 'FamilySearch', that is fine; but, please NOT into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

Some of the reasons that Users/Patrons (like myself) DO NOT want the ability to upload a GEDCOM File into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' are:

(1) It is most likely that individuals/persons in a GEDCOM File are ALREADY in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; and, most Users/Patrons DO NOT even take the time to look to see if any one in their GEDCOM File is already in "Family Tree", in some instances, negating the need to even upload the GEDCOM File.

(2) There has been (many) cases where Users/Patrons, using the "Compare" process (of the upload) have "Dismissed" a "Possible" Match with an individual/person already in "Family Tree"; so that, their "Record", from their GEDCOM File, is loaded into "Family Tree", regardless; just so that, their "Record" appears in "Family Tree" (and, in some instances, for Members of the Church, so they can do the "Temple" Work, despite the fact that the "Temple" Work is ALREADY done with the "Possible" Match with the individual/person already in "Family Tree").

(3) Even with the "Compare" process (of the upload), there has been (many) cases where Users/Patrons have uploaded THEIR version of an individual/person in their GEDCOM File, on top of (ie. Over) an individual/person ALREADY in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" that has been there for MANY years and is well documented and "Sources" - in many instances obliterating all of the documentation and "Sources".

(4) If an individual/person is ALREADY in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch", there is NO need to up uploaded one's version of an individual/person from one's own GEDCOM File - just take note of the the 'FamilySearch Person Identifier' (PID) of the individual/person that is ALREADY in "Family Tree"; and, one can go back later to ensure what information/detail is recorded and attached for that individual/person. Just DO NOT uploaded one's version of an individual/person in their GEDCOM File, on top of (ie. Over) an individual/person ALREADY in "Family Tree" - obliterating all of the documentation and "Sources" ALREADY in place/on record.

(5) The "Hours" (sometimes "Days"; or, even, "Weekes") of work, by other Users/Patrons, that can be needed to CORRECT the DAMAGE done by the upload of a GEDCOM File can be disheartening.

I am sorry ... 'off my soap box' ...

Enter (ie. 'Create') the individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' one at a time - on a one by one basis.

Many of the individuals/persons in a GEDCOM File, most probably, ALREADY exist in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

Only one or two generations of the "Living" individuals/persons; and, perhaps, maybe, only one or two generations of the "Deceased" individuals/persons, may be required to be entered/input into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch"; BEFORE, some of the "Deceased" individuals/persons, from one's Ancestral Lines, ALREADY existing in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', are discovered.

Use the "Find" facility/function/feature to Search "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', one may be surprised to find some (if not, many) of them already there.

Many well established and documented (eg. "Sourced") individuals/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' have been RUINED, by the upload, a GEDCOM File, into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

I hope this gives you some more, insight; and, perspective.

Good Luck.

Brett

Brett .

@NidaFL

FYI

It would seem, that you personally, may NOT had, your "Ancestral" Lines, in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', ruined/destroyed, by the "Upload", of a GEDCOM File, into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

Otherwise, you would NOT recommend (or, for that matter, promote), the "Upload", of GEDCOM Files, into "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.

Whereas ...

MANY; Many; many, of us, have had our "Ancestral" Lines, in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', ruined/destroyed, by the "Upload", of GEDCOM Files, into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

That is WHY ...

MANY; Many; many, of us, really wish 'FamilySearch' would just STOP allowing the "Upload" of GEDCOM Files into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' altogether; as, there is just NO need for the "Upload" of GEDCOM File into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', under ANY circumstance; even, if one's "Ancestral" Lines are NOT already in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

Question:

Were you ever, a Participant, in the OLD 'FamilySearch' ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum; and, if you were, did you ever 'see'; where, the matter of the "Upload", of GEDCOM Files, into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', was discussed at length; especially, the destructive nature of such, that can occur; where, the User/Patron either, simply "Dismissed" the "Possible" Match during the "Compare" Process; and/or, the User/Patron (or, another), 'obliterates', a well "Sources" and "Documented" individual/person, ALREADY in, "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', by one uploaded (or, later, "Merging"/"Combining") from a GEDCOM File.

Especially; as, a "Moderator" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" Personnel) ] ...

PLEASE; Please; please ...

NEVER, recommend; and/or, promote, the "Upload", of GEDCOM Files, into "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.

It is fine to, recommend ; and/or, promote, the "Upload", of GEDCOM Files, into the "Genealogies" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; but, suggest that such NOT be taken any further.

'Thank You' in advance.

Brett

CDBurk

@Brett and @NidaFL, thank you for sharing your opinions. We each share suggestions based upon our personal experiences and our desire to help one another. I love the process of working with the GEDCOMS and have done so successfully in the past so I agree that sometimes sharing a GEDCOM is a positive experience. I am sorry that you have had such a negative experience, Brett, and it is great that you shared some of the problems you have encountered so that guests can be aware of things that can occur.

Because FamilySearch does allow us to submit a GEDCOM, each user must decide on their own whether or not they want to use this process to expand their family history efforts. @donaldduncan1, I wish you success as you make your decisions about how FamilySearch can assist you with your family history efforts.